Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method, performed by a radio node, for communicating with a wireless device in a wireless communication system, wherein the radio node applies cross-carrier scheduling, and wherein the wireless device being configured with at least two scheduling component carriers (CCs) available to the wireless communication system for communication with the wireless device, the method comprising: associating each one of the at least two scheduling CCs with a respective different group of CCs; configuring the wireless device with a relation between the scheduling CC upon which control information will be transmitted and the respective one of the different groups of CCs; and transmitting, on one of the scheduling CCs, control information comprising scheduling information in a downlink control information message to the wireless device, wherein the scheduling information in the transmitted control information applies to a CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs, the CC being determined based on a value of a carrier indicator field in the transmitted control information and based on the one of the scheduling CCs on which the control information is transmitted; wherein configuring the wireless device comprises configuring the wireless device with an index offset that depends on the scheduling CC upon which the control information is transmitted; wherein the at least two scheduling CCs comprise a primary component carrier and a secondary component carrier of the wireless device; and wherein the index offset related to the primary component carrier differs from the index offset related to the secondary component carrier.
2. The method of claim 1 : wherein the control information is transmitted in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message; and wherein the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs, to which the transmitted control information applies, is identifiable by applying the index offset to a value set by bits in an information field in the DCI message.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the information field is a Carrier Information Field (CIF) in the DCI message.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically to methods for transmitting and receiving control information in downlink control information (DCI) messages. The problem addressed is the efficient and reliable transmission of carrier-related information in wireless networks, particularly in scenarios involving carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operations. The method involves encoding a Carrier Information Field (CIF) within a DCI message to indicate carrier-specific information. The CIF is used to identify the target carrier for the DCI message, allowing a user equipment (UE) to determine which carrier the control information applies to. This is particularly useful in systems where multiple carriers are aggregated to increase data rates or improve reliability. The CIF may include information such as carrier indices, bandwidth parts, or other carrier-specific parameters, enabling the UE to correctly interpret and apply the DCI message to the appropriate carrier. The method ensures that the DCI message is correctly decoded and processed by the UE, reducing the risk of misinterpretation or errors in carrier selection. This improves the efficiency and reliability of control signaling in wireless communication systems, especially in advanced networks like 5G and beyond, where carrier aggregation is widely used. The invention enhances the flexibility and scalability of wireless networks by providing a standardized way to convey carrier-specific information in DCI messages.
4. The method of claim 2 : wherein the control information comprises a trigger for Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission; and wherein the trigger indicates that SRS should be transmitted on the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs to which the transmitted control information applies.
5. The method of claim 2 : wherein the control information comprises a trigger for aperiodic Channel Status Information (CSI) reporting; and wherein the information field is a field associated with CSI reporting in the DCI message.
6. The method of claim 3 : wherein feedback information on a decoding result for the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs is received or transmitted on the primary component carrier or the secondary component carrier of the wireless device depending on whether the index offset, by which the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs to which the transmitted control information applies is identifiable, is an index offset of the primary component carrier or an index offset of the secondary component carrier.
7. The method of claim 3 : wherein the control information comprises scheduling information in form of a first resource assignment; wherein feedback information on a decoding result is indicated for the respective one of the different groups of CCs such that Acknowledged (ACK) indicates successful decoding on all of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs and Non-acknowledged (NACK) indicates unsuccessful decoding on one or more of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
8. The method of claim 7 : wherein the first resource assignment is transmitted in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message; and wherein the respective one of the different groups of CCs is at least partly indicated by bits of a Carrier Information Field (CIF) in the DCI message.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first resource assignment applies equally to each one of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs, such that a same amount of resources are comprised in respective sets of scheduled resources for the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
10. The method of claim 7 : wherein the first resource assignment applies to one or more, but less than all, of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs; and wherein a pre-configured set of scheduled resources applies for remaining CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising selecting the pre-configured set of scheduled resources from a set of pre-configured sets of resources for scheduling.
12. The method of claim 7 : wherein the first resource assignment applies to one or more of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs; and wherein a second resource assignment applies to remaining CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first resource assignment is to be scaled to span the full bandwidth of the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein associating each one of the at least two scheduling CCs with a respective different group of CCs comprises defining one or more CC groups to be comprised in the respective different group of CCs.
15. A method, performed by a wireless device, for communicating with a radio node in a wireless communication system, wherein the radio node is configured to apply cross-carrier scheduling, and wherein the wireless device is configured with at least two scheduling component carriers (CCs) available to the wireless communication system for communication with the wireless device, the method comprising: obtaining information on an association of each one of the at least two scheduling CCs with a respective different group of CCs; receiving control information comprising scheduling information in a downlink control information message from the radio node, wherein the control information is received on one of the scheduling CCs; determining a CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs based on a value of a carrier indicator field in the received control information and on the one of the scheduling CCs on which the control information is received; and applying the scheduling information in the received control information to the determined CC; wherein the wireless device is configured with a relation between the scheduling CC upon which the control information is received and the respective one of the different groups of CCs; wherein the wireless device interprets the respective one of the different groups of CCs differently by applying an index offset that depends on the scheduling CC upon which the control information is received; wherein the at least two scheduling CCs comprise a primary component carrier and a secondary component carrier of the wireless device; and wherein the index offset related to the primary component carrier differs from the index offset related to the secondary component carrier.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the wireless device receives the control information in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message and identifies the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs, to which the received control information applies, by applying the index offset to a value set by bits in an information field in the DCI message.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically methods for managing control information in multi-carrier networks. The problem addressed is the efficient distribution and interpretation of control signals across multiple component carriers (CCs) in a wireless device, particularly in scenarios where the device must handle control information from different groups of CCs. The method involves a wireless device receiving control information in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message. The device identifies which group of component carriers the control information applies to by using an index offset. This offset is applied to a value derived from bits in an information field within the DCI message. The index offset ensures that the control information is correctly mapped to the appropriate group of CCs, preventing misinterpretation or misrouting of signals. This approach optimizes resource allocation and reduces processing overhead by clearly defining the scope of each control message. The method is part of a broader system where a network node transmits control information to the wireless device, and the device processes this information to determine the relevant CC group. The index offset may be preconfigured or dynamically adjusted based on network conditions. This ensures flexibility in managing control signals across different carrier groups, improving efficiency in multi-carrier communication environments. The solution enhances reliability and reduces errors in control signal interpretation, particularly in dense or high-traffic networks.
17. The method of claim 16 : wherein the information field is a Carrier Information Field (CIF) in the DCI message.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically to methods for transmitting control information in downlink control information (DCI) messages. The problem addressed is the efficient and flexible transmission of carrier-related information in wireless networks, particularly in scenarios involving carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operations. The invention provides a technique for embedding carrier-specific information within a DCI message to improve signaling efficiency and reduce overhead. The method involves modifying a DCI message to include a Carrier Information Field (CIF) that identifies one or more carriers associated with the control information. The CIF allows the DCI message to dynamically indicate which carrier(s) the control information pertains to, enabling flexible scheduling and resource allocation across multiple carriers. This is particularly useful in systems where a user device may be configured with multiple carriers, such as in carrier aggregation or dual connectivity scenarios. By including the CIF in the DCI message, the system can avoid transmitting separate control messages for each carrier, reducing signaling overhead and improving overall efficiency. The method may also involve determining the presence or absence of the CIF based on predefined rules or configuration parameters, ensuring compatibility with different network configurations and device capabilities. The CIF can be structured to support various types of carrier-related information, such as carrier indices, bandwidth parts, or other identifiers, depending on the specific requirements of the wireless communication system. This approach enhances the adaptability of the control signaling framework, supporting advanced features like dynamic carrier switching
18. The method of claim 16 : wherein the control information comprises a trigger for Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission; and wherein the trigger indicates that SRS should be transmitted on the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs to which the received control information applies.
19. The method of claim 16 : wherein the control information comprises a trigger for aperiodic Channel Status Information (CSI) reporting; and wherein the information field is a field associated with CSI reporting in the DCI message.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically methods for enhancing downlink control information (DCI) signaling to support aperiodic channel state information (CSI) reporting. The problem addressed is the need for efficient and flexible triggering of CSI feedback in wireless networks, particularly in scenarios where periodic reporting is insufficient or resource-intensive. The method involves transmitting control information in a DCI message, where the control information includes a trigger for aperiodic CSI reporting. The DCI message contains an information field specifically associated with CSI reporting, allowing a user equipment (UE) to generate and transmit CSI feedback in response to the trigger. This aperiodic reporting mechanism enables the network to request CSI updates on-demand, improving resource utilization and adapting to dynamic channel conditions. The method may also include configuring the UE with one or more CSI reporting settings, such as reporting parameters or resource allocations, which are used when the aperiodic CSI trigger is received. The DCI message may further include additional control information, such as scheduling assignments or power control commands, to coordinate uplink or downlink transmissions based on the reported CSI. This approach optimizes network performance by aligning CSI feedback with actual data transmission needs, reducing overhead and latency.
20. The method of claim 17 : wherein feedback information on a decoding result for the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs is transmitted or received on the primary component carrier or the secondary component carrier of the wireless device depending on whether the index offset that is applied to identify the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs, to which the received control information applies, is an index offset of the primary component carrier or an index offset of the secondary component carrier.
21. The method of claim 17 : wherein the control information comprises scheduling information in form of a first resource assignment; and wherein feedback information on a decoding result is indicated for the respective one of the different groups of CCs such that Acknowledged (ACK) indicates successful decoding on all of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs and Non-acknowledged (NACK) indicates unsuccessful decoding on one or more of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
22. The method of claim 21 : wherein the first resource assignment is received in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message; and wherein the respective one of the different groups of CCs is at least partly indicated by bits of a Carrier Information Field (CIF) in the DCI message.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the first resource assignment applies equally to each one of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs, such that a same amount of resources are comprised in respective sets of scheduled resources for the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
24. The method of claim 21 : wherein the first resource assignment applies to one or more, but less than all, of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs; and wherein a pre-configured set of scheduled resources applies for remaining CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
25. The method of claim 21 : wherein the first resource assignment applies to one or more of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs; and wherein a second resource assignment applies to remaining CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first resource assignment is to be scaled to span the full bandwidth of the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
27. A radio node for communicating with a wireless device, wherein the radio node applies cross-carrier scheduling, and wherein the wireless device has been configured with at least two scheduling component carriers (CCs) in a wireless communication system, the at least two CCs being available to the wireless communication system for communication with the wireless device, the radio node comprising: processing circuitry; and memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the radio node is operative to: associate each one of the at least two scheduling CCs with a respective different group of CCs; and transmit, on one of the scheduling CCs, control information comprising scheduling information in a downlink control information message to the wireless device, wherein the scheduling information in the transmitted control information applies a CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs, the CC being determined based on a value of a carrier indicator field in the transmitted control information and based on the one of the scheduling CCs on which the control information is transmitted; wherein the instructions are such that the radio node is: operative to configure the wireless device with a relation between the scheduling CC upon which the control information is transmitted and the respective one of the different groups of CCs; configure the wireless device with an index offset that depends on the scheduling CC upon which the control information is transmitted; wherein the at least two scheduling CCs comprise a primary component carrier and a secondary component carrier of the wireless device; and wherein the index offset related to the primary component carrier differs from the index offset related to the secondary component carrier.
28. The radio node of claim 27 : wherein the instructions are such that the radio node is operative to transmit the control information in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message; and wherein the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs, to which the transmitted control information applies, is identifiable by applying the index offset to a value set by bits in an information field in the DCI message.
29. The radio node of claim 28 : wherein the information field is a Carrier Information Field (CIF) in the DCI message.
A radio node in a wireless communication system is configured to receive a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message from a base station. The DCI message includes a Carrier Information Field (CIF) that indicates a carrier frequency or bandwidth part (BWP) for communication. The radio node processes the CIF to determine the carrier or BWP specified by the base station, allowing it to switch or configure its receiver accordingly. This enables efficient multi-carrier or multi-BWP operation, reducing signaling overhead and improving resource utilization. The radio node may also transmit uplink control information (UCI) or data based on the carrier or BWP indicated by the CIF. The system supports dynamic carrier or BWP switching, enhancing flexibility in resource allocation and interference management. The CIF may be part of a DCI format used for scheduling or control signaling, ensuring compatibility with existing protocols. This approach optimizes wireless communication efficiency by dynamically adapting to varying network conditions and traffic demands.
30. The radio node of claim 28 : wherein the control information comprises a trigger for Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission; and wherein the trigger indicates that SRS should be transmitted on the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs to which the transmitted control information applies.
31. The radio node of claim 28 : wherein the control information comprises a trigger for aperiodic Channel Status Information (CSI) reporting; and wherein the information field is a field associated with CSI reporting in the DCI message.
32. The radio node of claim 29 : wherein the instructions are such that the radio node is operative to receive or transmit feedback information on a decoding result for the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs on the primary component carrier or the secondary component carrier of the wireless device depending on whether the index offset, by which the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs to which the transmitted control information applies is identifiable, is an index offset of the primary component carrier or an index offset of the secondary component carrier.
33. The radio node of claim 29 : wherein the control information comprises scheduling information in form of a first resource assignment; and wherein feedback information on a decoding result is indicated for the respective one of the different groups of CCs such that Acknowledged (ACK) indicates successful decoding on all of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs and Non-acknowledged (NACK) indicates unsuccessful decoding on one or more of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
34. The radio node of claim 33 : wherein the instructions are such that the radio node is operative to transmit the first resource assignment in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message; and wherein the respective one of the different groups of CCs is at least partly indicated by bits of a Carrier Information Field (CIF) in the DCI message.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically to methods for managing carrier aggregation in radio nodes. The problem addressed is the efficient assignment and signaling of communication resources across multiple component carriers (CCs) in a carrier aggregation scenario, where a radio node (e.g., a base station or user equipment) must dynamically allocate resources while minimizing signaling overhead. The invention describes a radio node configured to assign communication resources to different groups of CCs, where each group is associated with a specific set of CCs. The radio node transmits a first resource assignment to a wireless device, indicating which group of CCs the assignment applies to. The assignment is conveyed in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message, which includes a Carrier Information Field (CIF) that at least partially identifies the relevant group of CCs. The CIF uses specific bits within the DCI message to signal the group, allowing the wireless device to determine which CCs are being assigned resources. This approach reduces signaling complexity by grouping CCs and using a compact CIF to indicate the group rather than individually specifying each CC. The invention also ensures backward compatibility with existing DCI formats while improving resource allocation efficiency in multi-carrier environments.
35. The radio node of claim 33 , wherein the first resource assignment applies equally to each one of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs, such that a same amount of resources are comprised in respective sets of scheduled resources for the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
36. The radio node of claim 33 : wherein the first resource assignment applies to one or more, but less than all, of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs; and wherein a pre-configured set of scheduled resources applies for remaining CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
37. The radio node of claim 36 , wherein the instructions are such that the radio node is operative to select the pre-configured set of scheduled resources from a set of pre-configured sets of resources for scheduling.
38. The radio node of claim 33 : wherein the first resource assignment applies to one or more of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs; and wherein a second resource assignment applies to remaining CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically to resource allocation in radio nodes supporting carrier aggregation (CA) with multiple component carriers (CCs). The problem addressed is efficient resource management when assigning resources to different groups of CCs in a radio node, ensuring proper distribution of resources across all CCs while optimizing performance. The radio node includes a processor configured to assign resources to different groups of CCs. A first resource assignment is applied to one or more CCs within a group, while a second resource assignment is applied to the remaining CCs in the same group. This allows for flexible resource allocation, where different CCs within the same group can be managed independently. The processor may also determine the grouping of CCs based on factors such as traffic load, channel conditions, or service requirements, ensuring optimal resource utilization. The invention improves efficiency in multi-CC environments by dynamically adjusting resource assignments to balance load and enhance overall system performance.
39. The radio node of claim 38 , wherein the first resource assignment is to be scaled to span the full bandwidth of the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
40. The radio node of claim 39 , wherein the instructions are such that the radio node is operative to define one or more CC groups to be comprised in the respective different group of CCs.
41. A wireless device for communicating with a radio node in a wireless communication system, wherein the radio node is configured to apply cross-carrier scheduling, and the wireless device is configurable with at least two scheduling component carriers (CCs) available to the wireless communication system for communication with the wireless device, the wireless device comprising: processing circuitry; and memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the wireless device is operative to: obtain information on an association of each one of the at least two scheduling CCs with a respective different group of CCs; receive control information comprising scheduling information in a downlink control information message from the radio node wherein the control information is received on one of the scheduling CCs; determine a CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs based on a value of a carrier indicator field in the received control information and on the one of the scheduling CCs on which the control information is received; and apply the scheduling information in the received control information to the determined CC; wherein the wireless device is configured with a relation between the scheduling CC upon which the control information is received and the respective one of the different groups of CCs; wherein the instructions are such that the wireless device is operable to interpret the respective one of the different groups of CCs differently by applying an index offset that depends on the scheduling CC upon which the control information is received; wherein the at least two scheduling CCs comprise a primary component carrier and a secondary component carrier of the wireless device; and wherein the index offset related to the primary component carrier differs from the index offset related to the secondary component carrier.
42. The wireless device of claim 41 , wherein the instructions are such that the wireless device is operable to receive the control information in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message and to identify the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs, to which the received control information applies, by applying the index offset to a value set by bits in an information field in the DCI message.
43. The wireless device of claim 42 : wherein the information field is a Carrier Information Field (CIF) in the DCI message.
44. The wireless device of claim 42 : wherein the control information comprises a trigger for Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission; and wherein the trigger indicates that SRS should be transmitted on the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs to which the received control information applies.
45. The wireless device of claim 42 : wherein the control information comprises a trigger for aperiodic Channel Status Information (CSI) reporting; and wherein the information field is a field associated with CSI reporting in the DCI message.
46. The wireless device of claim 43 : wherein the instructions are such that the wireless device is operable to transmit or receive feedback information on a decoding result for the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs on the primary component carrier or the secondary component carrier of the wireless device depending on whether the index offset that is applied to identify the CC of the respective one of the different groups of CCs, to which the received control information applies, is an index offset of the primary component carrier or an index offset of the secondary component carrier.
In wireless communication systems, managing multiple component carriers (CCs) in carrier aggregation (CA) scenarios presents challenges in efficiently transmitting and receiving feedback information. This invention addresses the need for a wireless device to determine the appropriate CC for transmitting or receiving feedback on decoding results based on an index offset applied to identify the CC associated with received control information. The wireless device includes instructions that enable it to process control information received on a primary or secondary component carrier. The device determines whether the index offset used to identify the target CC is associated with the primary or secondary component carrier. Depending on this determination, the device transmits or receives feedback information on the decoding result for the identified CC either on the primary or secondary component carrier. This ensures that feedback is correctly routed to the appropriate carrier, improving reliability and efficiency in carrier aggregation scenarios. The solution optimizes feedback transmission by dynamically selecting the carrier based on the index offset, reducing misrouting and enhancing overall system performance.
47. The wireless device of claim 42 : wherein the control information comprises scheduling information in form of a first resource assignment; and wherein feedback information on a decoding result is indicated for the respective one of the different groups of CCs such that Acknowledged (ACK) indicates successful decoding on all of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs and Non-acknowledged (NACK) indicates unsuccessful decoding on one or more of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
48. The wireless device of claim 47 : wherein the instructions are such that the wireless device is operable to receive the first resource assignment in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message; and wherein the respective one of the different groups of CCs is at least partly indicated by bits of a Carrier Information Field (CIF) in the DCI message.
49. The wireless device of claim 47 , wherein the first resource assignment applies equally to each one of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs, such that a same amount of resources are comprised in respective sets of scheduled resources for the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
50. The wireless device of claim 47 : wherein the first resource assignment applies to one or more, but less than all, of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs; and wherein a pre-configured set of scheduled resources applies for remaining CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
51. The wireless device of claim 47 : wherein the first resource block assignment applies to one or more of the CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs; and wherein a second resource block assignment applies to remaining CCs comprised in the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
52. The wireless device of claim 51 , wherein the wireless device is configured to scale the first resource assignment to span the full bandwidth of the respective one of the different groups of CCs.
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February 2, 2021
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